Lawsuit over EV charger grants could impact drivers nationwide

A coalition of 16 states and the District of Columbia has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. government following the suspension of two grant programs designed to fund electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. California Attorney General Rob Bonta stated that the Trump administration’s Department of Transportation (USDOT) has blocked the approval of new funding under these programs, which were established by a $1 trillion infrastructure law in 2022. The lawsuit alleges that this action jeopardizes $1.8 billion in federal awards allocated to state and local governments.

This legal challenge comes amidst a broader pattern of actions by former President Trump targeting electric vehicles. In June, he signed a resolution to block California’s plan to phase out gasoline-only vehicle sales by 2035 and rescinded the $7,500 EV tax credit. He has also proposed weakening fuel economy standards. A previous ruling in June blocked the administration from withholding funds from a separate $5 billion EV charger infrastructure fund.

Attorney General Bonta criticized the move as a “reckless attempt” that would hinder efforts to combat air pollution and climate change, stifle innovation, and limit access to clean transportation. The USDOT has not yet issued a comment on the lawsuit.

(Source：Usa Today)